Content Analysis of Reflective Journals in Early Clinical Experience

Park, Si-Woon; Chae, Su Jin; Yi, Sang-Yeop; Han, Ki Jun; Won, Young Jun

doi:2021.15.5.157

Korean J General Edu > Volume 15(5); 2021 > Article

General Paper

Korean Journal of General Education 2021;15(5):157-167.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.46392/kjge.2021.15.5.157 Published online October 31, 2021.

Content Analysis of Reflective Journals in Early Clinical Experience

Si-Woon Park¹, Su Jin Chae², Sang-Yeop Yi³, Ki Jun Han⁴, Young Jun Won⁵

¹Professor, Catholic Kwandong University College of Medicine
²Associate Professor, Catholic Kwandong University College of Medicine
³Professor, Catholic Kwandong University College of Medicine
⁴Professor, Catholic Kwandong University College of Medicine
⁵Professor, Catholic Kwandong University College of Medicine

의과대학 조기임상경험의 성찰일지 내용 분석

박시운¹, 채수진², 이상엽³, 한기준⁴, 원영준⁵

¹가톨릭관동대학교 의과대학 재활의학교실 교수
²가톨릭관동대학교 의과대학 의학교육학교실 부교수
³가톨릭관동대학교 의과대학 병리학교실 교수
⁴가톨릭관동대학교 의과대학 내과학교실 교수
⁵가톨릭관동대학교 의과대학 내과학교실 교수

Correspondence: Su Jin Chae,
Email: edujin@cku.ac.kr

Received: 20 September 2021 • Revised: 20 October 2021 • Accepted: 25 October 2021

Abstract

This study qualitatively analyzed medical students’ engagement of pre-clerkship early clinical experience and their implications based on reflective journals. The subjects were 60 third-year students who had taken the early clinical experience course offered by the Catholic Kwandong University College of Medicine. Students had to complete and submit a reflective journal at the end of the course. This study used the reflective journals students submitted as analysis data. Data were analyzed using Elo and Kyngäs’ inductive qualitative analysis. As a result of study, a total of 127 unique significant keywords and statements were extracted. These statements generated 11 formulated sub-categories and five theme categories. Five main categories were derived from the students’ reflective journals: understanding of patients, understanding of professionalism, understanding of other occupations, understanding of the hospital system, and motivation to learn. Students understood patients’ perspectives on diseases and improved their ability to empathize; they gained confidence in communication and clinical skills; they became more positive toward the underprivileged; and their interest in the medical system grew. The results suggest that early clinical experience can be applied as one beneficial educational program for medical students in the pre-clerkship curriculum.

Key Words: medical school, reflective journal, clerkship, pre-clerkship, early clinical experience, qualitative content analysis